DEC 2019
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As your kids get older, the times when you can gather all of them together grow few and far between. I don’t think of that as a bad thing. In fact, I’ve loved watching my kids grow into independent people and carve out their own places in this world. Of course, it also means I savor the moments when all of us can be together. This year, we’ve been a little spoiled. Katie, my eldest, got married, and her wedding was obviously such an occasion. In most years, however, the chief gathering time is the holidays. Even still, those are a little different this time around. John, the older of my two sons, is in the Army now. To make sure he didn’t spend Thanksgiving alone, I traveled to Texas, where he’s stationed, to visit him. For Christmas, though, I expect all four kids will be back at home, which will be a treat. It won’t just be them, though. There’s a new addition to the holiday gathering this year in the form of our new black Lab mix, Bella. We certainly didn’t plan for Bella’s arrival. It was more a matter of fate. Earlier this year, a black dog named Abby showed up at our property. The dog seemed content on staying, but we figured he’d head back home eventually. After a couple of days, we wondered if the dog had any owners at all. It took four days in total, but his owners finally got in touch with us. We returned him and figured that was that. While that dog didn’t return, a new one showed up not two weeks later, the day after Katie’s wedding. This time, we knew the drill. We posted information about the dog, who looked a lot like the original one, on social media and did our best to get the word out. Nobody came forward, so we took her to the vet to see if she had a chip. She didn’t, so we got her chipped, vaccinated, and named her Bella. (We were also advised to get Bella spayed, but decided to hold off on that. As I write this, Bella is in heat and staying in the garage so our one unexpected arrival doesn’t multiply into a lot more. Gotta love what happens when you procrastinate.) Now she is the new family dog and about to experience her first holiday season. BELLA’S FIRST HOLIDAY HOW A NEW DOG JOINED OUR LIVES
weekends ago, Jessica taught Bella how to fetch. Now, when the kids next door leave their shoes outside, Bella will dutifully bring them back to our doorstep expecting another game to commence. Thankfully, she doesn’t chew up the sneakers, and the kids are fast friends with Bella. Overall, it’s been smooth sailing, aside from the whole “in heat” thing. To be honest, I never could’ve guessed this year’s holiday photos would include Bella along with Dave and the kids, but sometimes you get a gift you weren’t planning for. I’m excited for everyone to meet Bella, but mostly, I’m excited to see them all together.
Happy holidays, everyone!
-Melissa Emery WWW.EMERYLAWOFFICE.COM | 1
While not everyone has had the chance to meet Bella yet, Jessica is already making a strong case to become Bella’s owner. When she was home a few
THAT KEEPS ON TAKING CONSIDER THIS BEFORE GIFTING A PET
feed the fish and clean its tank, giving them the fun of pet ownership without the hassle. Keep in mind that different fish have different needs, so do some research before making the commitment. If pet ownership is not viable right now, you can interact with animals outside the home in plenty of ways. Volunteer at an animal shelter, enroll in horseback riding lessons at a local stable, or buy season tickets to the zoo. Pets can bring immense joy to your life when you’re prepared but immense stress and hardship when you’re not. Make the right choice to prevent your pet from becoming another sad statistic.
If you do decide you’re ready for a pet, recognize you will be financially responsible for it over the course of its entire life, which can be up to 14-plus years depending on the type. Are you equipped to handle routine veterinary costs in addition to food, supplies, and the occasional toy or treat? Do you have a plan in place for when you go on vacation or in the event of an emergency? If not, it’s best to plan those things sooner rather than later. In addition to the financial responsibility of pet ownership, some pets require regular exercise, special diets, and even social interaction. So, if your family is always on the go, consider a low- maintenance pet fish instead. Your children can help
It’s a stereotypical picture of love and joy: A child opens their presents on Christmas morning only to be disappointed they didn’t get what they wanted. Suddenly, Dad brings out one more box, and a little whimper escapes the cardboard. The child’s face lights up! Their dream has come true. Inside the box, of course, is a new furry best friend. While many holiday films lean into this magical bond between people and animals, the reality of pet care isn’t so romantic. Adopting a pet comes with serious responsibility, and statistics show a staggering number of families return these pets after reality sets in. According to RSPCA, three pets are abandoned every hour during the holiday season.
HOW OUR STAFF GETS IN THE SPIRIT HOLIDAY PICKS FROM THE EMERY LAW TEAM
JOSEPH MCGRATH INTAKE SPECIALIST
KRISTEN HAWTHORN PARALEGAL Favorite holiday tradition: Attending the Christmas Eve church service, followed by a trip to the movie theater and usually some delicious soup back at my parents’ place … and, of course, leaving out cookies and milk for Santa! The best gift you’ve ever received: Nothing says “I love you” like cash! Favorite holiday movie: A toss-up between “Holiday Inn” and “White Christmas,” both featuring the one and only Mr. Bing Crosby. Ideal holiday meal: Deep-fried turkey, sweet potato casserole, green beans, some nice yeast rolls — the typical meal! One word to describe the holiday season: Blessedness
No two families’ holiday seasons are alike, and that’s part of what makes them so special. Here are some of the ways the Emery Law Office team enjoys the most wonderful time of the year.
Favorite holiday tradition: Making gingerbread houses and eating them on Christmas. The best gift you’ve ever received: Guitar Hero — I played that game crazy nonstop! Favorite holiday movie: “Die Hard” Ideal holiday meal: Steak and eggs.
AUDRA SENG SENIOR PARALEGAL Favorite holiday tradition: Baking with the kids.
STEVE DAMRON ATTORNEY
Favorite holiday tradition: Getting the family together to decorate every room for the holidays. The best gift you’ve ever received: Seeing the excitement on the kids’ faces as they open their gifts. Favorite holiday movie: “The Polar Express” Ideal holiday meal: The usual — turkey and all the fixings.
The best gift you’ve ever received: Any handmade gifts from my children or husband. Favorite holiday movie: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” Ideal holiday meal: Honey-baked ham, mashed potatoes with gravy, candied yams, corn, stuffing, hot buttered rolls, and cherry pie. One word to describe the holiday season: Fattening
One word to describe the holiday
season: Cold
One word to describe the holiday season: FAMILY!
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HAVE A LAUGH!
• 1 chicken, approx. 5–6 lbs • Kosher salt • Freshly ground pepper • 1 large bunch fresh thyme, 20 sprigs removed • 1 lemon, halved • 1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted • 1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced • 4 carrots, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces • Olive oil CLASSIC ROAST CHICKEN Inspired by Ina Garten INGREDIENTS
BAD WEATHER, SLOW TRAFFIC, AND A CLEAR HEAD Your favorite holiday recipe may be for hot cocoa or Christmas ham, but the holidays themselves are a recipe for anger and resentment behind the wheel. All the road rage ingredients are in place: bad road conditions, traffic, and drivers in a rush. No matter how awful your holiday commute is, getting upset isn’t going to solve anything. In fact, it tends to make the situation a whole lot worse. With that in mind, here are a few mantras to repeat to yourself to keep the holiday driving frustrations at bay. ‘EVERYBODY’S IN THIS MESS.’ We’ve all come across drivers who act as if traffic and weather unduly affect them. They act like where they need to be matters more than where everyone else is heading. Don’t be that person. When you’re stuck in traffic, so is everyone around you. Remember that and try to have a little empathy. ‘THE PARTY WILL STILL BE THERE.’ Some of us feel intense stress at the thought of being late to a holiday gathering, but the host will never mind if you’re a little late. Also, it’s 2019 and easier than ever to let somebody know you’re running a few minutes behind. Do me a favor, though, and don’t send that text while you’re driving. ‘THERE’S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SHOP.’ If you came of age as either a child or parent during the days of Tickle Me Elmo and Cabbage Patch Kids, you remember the days when shopping for presents was a no-holds-barred competition. Thankfully, modern e-commerce has changed all that. These days, it might even be cheaper to do all your shopping without ever leaving the house. ‘SERENITY NOW!’ In the event that all else fails, you can always try Frank Costanza’s favored saying, though it didn’t do him much good in that famed episode of “Seinfeld.” HOW TO AVOID HOLIDAY ROAD RAGE
DIRECTIONS
WE WANT YOU TO THINK OF US AS YOUR LAW FIRM. If you have a legal matter that needs attention, let us know. If we can’t handle the matter, we will refer you to a firm that can. Please feel free to refer us to your friends and family for their legal needs. We welcome the opportunity to help. 4. Place the chicken on the vegetables and roast for 1 1/2 hours. 5. Remove from oven, and let stand for 20 minutes covered with foil. 6. Slice and serve with the vegetables. 1. Heat oven to 425 F. 2. Rinse chicken inside and out, removing giblets if included. Move to a work surface, pat dry, and liberally season with salt and pepper. Stuff cavity with thyme bunch, lemon halves, and garlic head. Brush outside with butter, and then season again. Tie chicken legs together with kitchen string. 3. Meanwhile, in a roasting pan, toss onions and carrots in olive oil and season with salt, pepper, and 20 sprigs of thyme.
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AN UNEXPECTED GIFT 1 THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON TAKING STAFF HOLIDAY FAVORITES 2 CLEAR YOUR HEAD ON SLUSHY ROADS CLASSIC ROAST CHICKEN 3 BUILD A SNOWMAN WITH SCIENCE! 4 INSIDE
HOW TO BUILD THE PERFECT SNOWMAN
(ACCORDING TO SCIENCE)
I f you’re lucky enough to get a good snow day this year, building a snowman is a great way to spend it. That said, building a snowman isn’t all fun and games. It’s hard work, and you want to make sure the end result is worth the sore legs and soggy pants. Here are some science-backed strategies for building the perfect snowman. CHOOSE THE RIGHT SNOW Snow is your artistic medium, so make sure you have the right material for your project. Yes, there is a wrong kind of snow to use when building a snowman. You want the snow to be moist enough that it packs well but not so slushy that it collapses under pressure. The ideal snow for building your masterpiece is freshly fallen snow when the temperature is around 32 degrees F. If the snow isn’t quite right, you can moisten it a little by spraying water on it. LOCATION IS EVERYTHING Before you start stacking your snowman, pick the right location for it to hang out. Asphalt will heat up faster, so stick Frosty on a grassy lawn. If you can find a place that will be in the shade when the sun comes out, all the better. PAY ATTENTION TO PROPORTION As you roll the snowballs to form the head and body pieces, keep proportions in mind. This is important for the visual aesthetic of your snowman and overall stability. Mathematician Dr. James Hind from Nottingham Trent University
developed a formula for building the perfect snowman. He recommended that a snowman be 64 inches tall, while the sections of the snowman should be 31 inches in diameter for the base, 20 inches in diameter for the middle, and 12 inches in diameter for the head. Once your snowman is built, science has just one rule for decorating: Have fun. Grab a scarf and a top hat, a carrot nose and radish eyes, or a fancy bow tie. Building the perfect snowman means building a snowman that will make you smile when you see it.
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